Kerimhann

Hi, With liquids or even soft musshies you can not overstretch your "band". You should be drinking lots of Water and fresh juices btw.

ElfiePoo, thats true. I got to know from my physician that our sweet spots will never stay the same. Band will loosen up after few months and we might need another fill. That is also an indication (often) that we are overeating; he said.

Thanks for the messages. Answering or commenting on the few issues. pizza and Soda: I have to be honest here. I was eating that and believe it was going down fine. You do not realize till (now) that it was woowww. Today we went to pizza hut with the family and all I could eat was top of a single slice in 30 minutes. What I wanted to show is that there are people like me here who do continue their old eating habits and portion size and after you finish your meal (unfortunately only after:))) you feel guilty and ask why you still do that after the band. I call this "magic pill phase" as many like me thought band will change things day 1. Hunger and eating: After my visit to an experienced nutritionist, she in fact suggested that to me same did my doctor. Eat only when you are hungry. Not when you are starving. But do differentiate when you are really hungry or eating from other reasons such as socializing with a lunch with friends, family dinners, etc. I started using their advice. I did not cook or always prepared and eaten my food before I did enter the kitchen. Unfortunately I was not at the dining table for a while, etc. And immediately 10 kg (20 pounds) was gone. I was not hungry at all. Sweet spot: ElfiePoo; sweet spot is the phase when you do not eat like before and you are very much restricted. If you can still eat like before or way too much than you might need another fill. At sweet spot hunger is almost diminished. Purpose of my message is not start a discussion on eating habit but give hope to people. Cause I lost hope at one point.

I wanted to reported this here as it seems we either say something when we panic or when we finally lost lots of weight. I have been banded August 2010 in UK (single incision surgery from my belly button). I was very much scared from the surgery but all was fast and ok. I got my belly button infected so it was my first disappointment but finally it went away and healed perfectly. I am on a 14 cc band and 1 cc was in the band when they placed it. I got my first fill 1cc fill in October 2010. It did not effect my eating much except instead of 2 large pizza and 2-3 large coke, I was down to 1 large pizza and lots of coke. I was demotivated and asked myself if I did the right thing. Now there was something in my body and if I wanted it out I needed another surgery. After 1 month, there was almost no change in my weight. So I got another fill. again more chock episodes but everything was down one or other way and no weight loss at all. second fill, third fill, forth fill. etc. Imagine after each fill NO CHANGES. It was frustrating. I was reading here people having no fill and losing lots. Anyways as of Jan 2011, I got my fifth fill. Yes it works:)). I am at my sweet spot. I feel never hungry. I can not eat more than handful of whatever I want, soft mainly mushy. I can not drink fizzy drinks. And it feels different. I also started seeing many stretchmarks and started gym a month ago. For those who are like me, after so many fills you haven't seen much difference. Just be patient and wait. You will definitely find your sweet spot. And one tip. never ever eat if you do not feel hungry, just because its dinner time and everyone in the family is around the table. My rules in losing weight: - Do not eat anything in the morning till a moment you really really feel hungry. - If you have a partner, let him/her prepare family meals. stay away from food, kitchen or supermarket. - Wait till you will hit your sweet spot. You can definitely not eat a bowl of rice. - Do enroll at a gym. Believe me even in 1 month, it does wonders. You will not lose weight as you wished because you are gaining muscles (for men and for those who are more into weight training like me). But you will lose inches. - Remember it worked for soooo many people and will work for you. - Ice creams, candies, anything you can suck or melts in your mouth is your enemy. Make a drastic change. Kerim Was 129 kg in Aug and now 110 KG: 19kg lost which is almost 40 pounds

Its normal. I am 3 months post op with my first fill, till my first fill I was able to eat as before, after my first fill half of what I could eat before but still was not able to lose any weight. Tomorrow second fill. I have read so much here that it takes 2 or sometimes more fills before you feel the good restrictions. However I must warn you that do not forget to chew. Although you do not have any fill now, you are banded and band somehow tightens the porch.

Its normal if a food is stuck on your porch. Sometimes it takes a good hour before the food which was stuck there slides down but feeling of nausea stays for another hour for me. Did you try to drink soda? it always helps. Kerim

I think you asked how it feels, instead shall I get a fill. Well here is the answer. After the surgery you will feel full and cant even drink a glass of Water. Some has this for weeks and some has for days. This has nothing to do with your band's restriction but surgery. This will go away. Some people can eat the way they did before. Honestly I couldn't. I had often food stuck and my portion size was small. Yet, I wasn't losing any weight. So I got my first fill (i have a 14 cc band and got 5,5). At first I realized more food getting stuck and even in small quantities. Yet, I said to myself, I am not losing weight I need another fill. Now, after few weeks, i realized that I should not do that because If I get another fill I will have more episodes of stuck food which is not fun. I cant breath, I cant talk, I cant move, I cant even vomit so an hour long torture. I can now see that I am learning to eat slowly, chew chew chew and eat small portions. Also I feel less hungry. I also started gym and saw pounds coming off. So, you will fill restricted maybe not same as what you have now as a post-op but you should learn from your first fill and only do the second one if you really dont feel anything.

there is even a special turkish site called kelepcekardesligi.com

Hi Everyone, I had my first feel few days back. It went very fast and painless as it was done by my surgeon himself under the x-ray. They also did barium test. However I don't seem to see much difference. I can "feel" the band more easily if I eat piece of bread, but I cant feel the fullness. I have a 14 cc band and I have now 5,5 cc. Let me know if you felt the same when you had your first fill and also how does it feel when you get on to your sweet spot. Kerimhann

You are not alone. I did move to regular food and I gained back 6 lb. So I also stopped eating it. I went back to more dietty food. Its normal as we are not filled yet.

I am a month post-op, gas is very normal. Also you will experience left shoulder pain and it might even move. Mine moved from left shoulder to upper back. I couldnt also drink even water. few sips maybe. it will all go away. be patient. walk walk walk. It will help with the gas.

You have already lost 26 lb. so celebrate that. take it easy